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Long Island Roller Rebels Season II

Long Island, NY – July 14, 2007: Calling all derby fans! Watch the action as the Ladies of Laceration try to gain a win against last years’ Championship game winners the Wicked Wheelers of the West. Can the Ladies slash their way to a win, or will the Wheelers stir up some tornado-like strength and blow the Ladies away?

photo John Tomaselli

LONGISLAND ROLLER REBELS 2nd SEASON BOUT: LOL vs. WWW

Long Island Roller Rebels Present:

After a tough loss in May, the Ladies of Laceration will try to defeat the Wicked Wheelers of West

in their first season bout. Can the Ladies pull off their first win, or will the Wheelers fight to win their place

WWW.lirr.org for train schedules, Farmingdale or Bethpage train stations are closest, and then just a short cab ride from there.

ABOUT LONG ISLAND ROLLER REBELS:

With spirit and spunk, bare legs and rock ‘n’ roll hearts Long Island’s first all-female roller derby team, The Long Island Roller Rebels are quickly sweeping the Island and becoming the newest all-girl sports team on everyone’s lips.

Formed in late July 2005, the Long Island Roller Rebels began as a few girls with cheap skates rolling around in circles on tennis courts with big dreams of some day following in the footsteps of the women they used to watch on Saturday morning TV. Although not played identical to the old game, these girls have joined the ranks of amazing women across the country that are taking the game and giving it a new, more feminist edge.

After a successful first season in 2006, interest in the Long Island Roller Rebels has been growing. Thanks to a recent nationwide surge of attention garnered for the sport, as well as a lot of local and national coverage for the ladies of the Long Island Roller Rebels, LI’s premiere derby league’s popularity has skyrocketed.

Since its conception in the late 1930s, roller derby has been testing the strength and endurance of women across the country. At the height of its popularity in the 1950s, when bouts drew upwards of 30 thousand fans annually, women were wearing short-shorts and skating away from their day jobs to grace the covers of national magazines as strong, forces-to-be-reckoned-with role models for the younger generation.

Different from leagues of yesteryear, today’s neo-derby teams do not include men, but the bouts are promised to be as, if not more, enticing and exciting as the games of the ‘50s. With the addition of halftime shows that include local bands, burlesque dancers, a beer tent and merchandise booths so spectators can support their favorite roller girls’ team.

As a whole, the Long Island Roller Rebels empire has been built entirely by women who live a varied array of lives that range from medical professionals, to graduate students to mothers—all in true DIY (do-it-yourself) fashion. These women give nothing short of blood, sweat and tears all in hopes of living up to the standards of their roller derby predecessors, all this while giving the sport a new and modern twist.

With all the determination in the world, and the support of the other United States roller derby leagues, as well as the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) behind them, the Long Island Roller Rebels hope to join the neo-derby revolution with style and grace winning the hearts of fans across the country.